The Brief: Jan. 7, 2013
The approaching legislative session — now less than a day away — has pushed one politician squarely into the spotlight. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on July 31, 2012, in Houston addressing the crowd at a watch party following the announcement that he lost the U.S. Senate runoff to Ted Cruz.]()
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Video: Cruz, Castro on the Sunday Shows
A few days after they were sworn into Congress, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, appeared on the Sunday talk shows. Full Story
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New Legislature Faces a New Set of Priorities
With improving fiscal conditions and redistricting in the rearview, lawmakers are approaching 2013 with pressing policy questions, from whether to introduce private school vouchers to whether to implement key provisions of federal health reform. Full Story
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TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson with the latest on Texas vs. Planned Parenthood, Aguilar on Mexico's push for sovereignty, Galbraith on water conservation ideas, Grissom on the state's rape kit backlog, Hamilton on UT's plans for a new Valley university, Ramsey on legislating interrupting politicking, Ramshaw on how Texans in Congress voted on the fiscal cliff, the first two parts of Rocha and Dehn's multimedia series on community concerns coming to the Capitol and M. Smith on what the school finance trial means for the 83rd session: The best of our best content from Dec. 31, 2012, to Jan. 4, 2013. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: Jan. 4, 2012
Your evening reading: eight Texas Republicans vote against Sandy relief bill; Cornyn open to government shutdown in debt ceiling debate; Joaquin Castro elected president of freshman Democratic class Full Story
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Lawmakers Pressed to Act on Energy, Environmental Issues
Lawmakers will descend on the state Capitol next week to kick off the 83rd legislative session, and a host of issues related to energy and the environment — from funding a state water plan to reforming regulatory agencies — awaits them. Full Story
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Red River Water Rivalry Goes to U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court announced Friday that it will hear a major cross-border water case that pits Tarrant County against Oklahoma. North Texas wants water, but Oklahoma doesn't want to sell. Full Story
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Texas Getting $36 Million in Settlement Over Medicaid Fraud Cases
The Texas attorney general's office secured $36 million Friday in a lawsuit settlement with Pfizer Inc. and Endo Pharmaceuticals, which had been accused of illegally inflating the market prices of certain drugs in reports to the state. Full Story
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New Women's Health Program Launches Amid Provider Concerns
State officials are optimistic about the new Texas Women’s Health Program, which launched this week amid a long-running legislative fight. But at least one state lawmaker thinks there’s a problem with the program’s list of providers. Full Story
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Fiscal Cliff Deal Could Benefit Austin's Formula One Track
A little-noticed piece of the fiscal cliff deal approved by Congress this week could mean a windfall for the new Formula One racetrack in Austin. The so-called NASCAR tax credit allows racetracks to potentially write off millions of dollars in costs. Full Story
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Once Again, Legislating Will Interrupt Politicking
It feels like the 2013 legislative session, which gets under way Tuesday, is a five-month interruption of the election season. At some point, elections expanded to fill all of the space between the biennial sessions. Full Story
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![The March 1 primary ballot will feature 18 open seats in the Texas Legislature – two in the Senate and 16 in the House.]()
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Will New Year Bring New University to the Valley?
There is a significant amount of excitement in the Rio Grande Valley about a proposal to combine the University of Texas at Brownsville and the University of Texas-Pan American into a new university that would also have a planned medical school. Full Story
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Clearing Texas Rape Kit Backlog Will Cost Millions
It could cost Texas up to $11 million to clear the backlog of some 20,000 untested rape kits in police agencies statewide. If Congress doesn't come through with funding, lawmakers here in Texas will search for funds to help solve the crimes. Full Story
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![Pictured is a sexual assault evidence collection kit used by law enforcement throughout Texas.]()
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The Brief: Jan. 4, 2013
State Rep. David Simpson may be braving an uphill battle in the speaker's race, but now he's doing so with two more supporters at his side. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: Jan. 3, 2013
Your evening reading: Cruz, new Texas congressmen sworn in; Gohmert votes for Allen West for speaker; TxDOT suspends use of road signs for gun shows Full Story
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Water Conservation Ideas Pour In Ahead of Session
Using less water is the cheapest way to meet Texas’ water needs. So what could Texas lawmakers do to promote water savings? Among the proposals are requiring meters on farmers' wells and a sales-tax exemption for water-efficient appliances. Full Story
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Updated: Our Directory of the Texas Congressional Delegation
The Texas congressional delegation has eight new members — four resulting from retirements and elections, and four because the state’s growth increased the size of the delegation to 36 from 32. We've updated our congressional directory to mark the delegation's start. Full Story
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State of Mind: A Plan for West Texas Water Woes
For thousands of West Texans, severe water restrictions are in store if the heavens don't provide precipitation soon. State leaders say the unrelenting drought means they must find a way to fund a statewide water plan. Full Story
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State Officials Seek End to Federal Election Oversight
The U.S. Supreme Court may determine the fate of a key provision of the Voting Rights Act that became an Achilles' heel for Republican lawmakers this year. That could free Texas from federal oversight in election laws. Full Story
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![Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at the Flawn Academic Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Nov. 6, 2012.]()
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Amid Legal Drama, Texas Takes Over Women's Health Program
The state this week launched its own version of the Women’s Health Program, which provides some health services to low-income women. Texas is funding the program on its own after the federal government pulled money following a long-running dispute over Planned Parenthood. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
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